Tobacco-housing machine



March 2 1926. 1,575,193

G. L. DAVIS TOBACCO HOUS ING MACHINE elevation.

tioned shaft.

Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,575,193 PATENT GFFLCE.

.GEORGE L. DAVIS, DANVILLE, VIRGINIA.

TOBACCO-HOUSING MACHINE.

Application fiIed'OctObcr 3, 1925. Serial No. 00,310.

To all tolzlonait may cancer 1t Be it known that I, GEORGE L. Davis, a citizen, of the United States of America, residing at Danville, in the countyof Pittsylvania and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Housing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention. such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. V

This invention relates to atobacco housing machine; more particularly it relates to a machine for stitching leaves of tobacco to atape so as to form a ribbon thereof which may be stretched from tier pole to tier pole in a curing barn; the object of the invention is to provide a machine that. will expeditiously prepare the leaves of tobacco for easily handling the same during the process of storing in a curing barn.

Another object is to provide a machine that will effect a saving of labor in the storing of tobacco.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows the machine in end Fig. 2 shows the machine in side elevation, and Fig. 3 shows a number of tobacco leaves attached to the tape.

The machine comprises in general a supporting table 1 and an endless conveyor belt 2 arranged thereon, a sewing machine 3, a tape 4, and an adjustable butting board 5.

Ashaft 6, is rotatably mounted in bearings 7, to one end of the table 1. This shaft extends transversely of the table. .A pulley wheel 8, and a roller 9, are mounted upon said shaft for rotation therewith. A shaft 10, having a roller 11, rotatably secured thereon, is similarly arranged upon the opposite end of the table from the first-men- The endless conveyor belt 2 is operatively mounted upon the rollers 9 and 10. An idler roller 12, is arranged midway of the table so as to engage the underside of the conveyor belt. This idler roller may be secured to a cross-brace 13, of the table.

The sewing machine 3 is located adjacent to the end of the table to which the shaft 6 is secured; preferably a chain stitch sewing machine having a special long stitch and stroke should be used. Further description of this sewing machine appears to be unnecessary, as the structural details thereof constitute no part of the invention.

A belt 14, operatively connects the sewing machine to the pulley 8. The shaft 6 is provided with an operating handle 15. As is apparent, movement of this handle will actuate the conveyor belt and the sewing machine. A reel of tape 4 is rotatably mounted upon the table in such position that the tape may be unwound in a direction paralleling the conveyor belt and passing under the needle of the sewing machine. The butting board 5, is mounted for movement transversely of the table. The mounting of this board may be accomplished in various ways.

The operation of the machine will now be described.

The adjustable butting board is moved to a position that will enable the leaves of tobacco to be placed on the conveyor in such a manner that the stems of the leaves will project beyond the conveyor over the tape and against the board. The crank 15, being actuated, the leaves are carried forward by the conveyor and their stems are stitched to the tape as they pass beneath the sewing machine. A continuous ribbon of tobacco leaves is thereby formed. As this ribbon feeds out from under the sewing machine it may be stretched from tier pole to tier pole in the barn by an attendant. As the machine attaches the leaves to the tape by a chain stitch, it will be very easy to remove the string and tape from the tobacco after curing same.

It should be understood that the invention is susceptible of various adaptations and embodiments Within the scope. of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A tobacco housing machine comprising in combination a supporting table, an endless conveyor belt and a sewing machine operatively mounted thereon, a tape adapted to pass beneath the needle of the sewing machine and adjacent to one side of the conveyor belt; means for actuating the said sewing machine and conveyor belt and a butting board adjustably arranged upon the supporting table in parallel relation to the conveyor belt, said board being adapted to regulate the position of the tobacco leaves as they are placed upon the conveyor belt.

2. A tobacco housing machine comprising in combination a supporting table, an end less conveyor belt and a sewing machine operatively mounted thereon, an idler roller rotatably mounted upon a cross brace of said table so as to engage the under side of said conveyor belt; a reel rotatably mounted upon said cross brace, a tape arranged upon said reel adapted to be unwound in a direction parallel to the conveyor belt and to pass beneath the needle of said sewing machine; the butting board extending parallel to said conveyor belt and being adjustable transversely of said supporting table; and means for moving said conveyor belt and operating said sewing machine.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

GEORGE L. DAVIS. 

